What To Do and Where To Stay on Your Honeymoon in Paris

Take away the luxe hotels, incredible shopping, and mind-blowing art, and Paris would still be the most romantic honeymoon spot. Here, our guide on where to sleep, what to see, and how to spoil yourselves in the City of Light.

What's not to love about a honeymoon in Paris? There's the obvious stuff—art museums, palaces, and incredible red wine (red wine, we might add, that never brings on a hangover). The less obvious? As a couple on vacation in a major city, you somehow feel zero pressure to see it all. Maybe it's the relaxed French lifestyle (this is the land of leisurely lunching, after all), or maybe it's the fact that it's totally normal to just get lost there, wandering the cobblestone streets. Here, our picks for exploring the City of Light, no matter the season.

Stay: Shangri-La

Bed down at this quietly luxurious hotel—once the "home" of Napoleon's grandnephew—and the Eiffel Tower will literally be in your backyard. More than half of the sleek, Asian-inspired rooms come with heart-stopping views. (The Instagram possibilities are endless.) We're obsessed with the gracious staff, the in-room amenities (whoever left the hair ties in the bathroom vanity is a genius), and the pool. Yes, you heard right. There's an Olympic-size pool, perfect for working off last night's extra helping of butter.

Stay: Pavillon de la Reine

The Left Bank's Marais district is ground zero for the fashionable crowd—artists, writers, hipsters, even Gisele Bündchen when she's in town. This discreet, 55-room gem—set right across from where Les Misérables author Victor Hugo once lived—feels more like a friend's chic city home, with a lovely courtyard, library, and honesty bar, where guests can help themselves to pours of Bourdeaux.

Stay: Hotel Thoumieux

If you like your boutique hotels with a dash of whimsy (think bold floral wallpaper and leopard-print throws on the bed), this 15-room spot will be your happy place. Designer India Mahdavi's colorful palette makes up for the cozy digs. (Paris hotel rooms are notoriously teeny.) Add to that two impossibly chic restaurants and a brilliant location (steps from the Eiffel Tower and the Musée D'Orsay) and it's all golden.

Drink: Hotel Meurice, Bar 228

Break out the Louboutins: This clubby pocket off the Hotel Meurice's main lobby draws well-heeled Parisians doing business, celebs (Beyoncé and Jay-Z), and regular folks like us. Take your time—the waiters won't rush you out—and you'll want to soak up every minute and every drop of that heavenly 28-euro kir royale.

Drink: Le Bar du Bristol

If you've seen Midnight in Paris, you'll recognize this old-school hotel, set on the shopper's paradise that is the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. (Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams stayed in the Bristol's "honeymoon" suite.) Starchitect Pierre-Yves Rochon styled the new bar—think extravagant tapestries, a parquet floor made of Versailles oak, and a mod TV showing street scenes of Paris. You'll see a fashion-forward crowd coming in for killer cocktails and tapas, and a DJ that spins until 1:30 a.m.

Eat: Benoit

A worthy splurge—both for your wallet and your waistline—Alain Ducasse's warm, casual bistro feels like the French restaurant of your dreams: Tight tables set off by red-leather banquettes, crisp service (they're brusque in a good way), and decadent portions of savory cassoulet, sweetbreads with truffle jus, and garlicky escargots—the good stuff.

Eat: Astier

This intimate, red-and-white checker-cloth bistro turns out classic French fare—think escargots wrapped in a decadent puff pastry, rabbit terrine—at wallet-friendly prices: $50 per person, for an app, main course, dessert, and cheese course. And oh, the cheese: You'll have your pick of 15 yummy hunks from Maitre Affineur Anthès (the supplier of the Ritz) brought out on a towering plate. We loved the grassy Tomme de Savoie and the creamy Brillat de Savarin, sourced from Normandy.

See: Versailles

If you have enough time in Paris (five-plus days), make this a day trip. Over-the-top is an understatement when it comes to Louis XIV's palace, and you'll want to spend time in the magnificent gardens after your tour. (The audio guide is free, FYI.) Walk 45 minutes over to Marie Antoinette's pastoral-perfect "hamlet"—a recreation of a Norman farming village. She would head there to escape the extravagance of the court and embrace "country" living.

See: Musée D'Orsay

Welcome to Impressionist-art central. Set in a former beaux arts train station, the D'Orsay is chockablock with Monets, Manets, Renoirs—you name it. Head to the upper floor to see most of the big guns—on the middle level, you'll find a small but stunning collection of works by van Gogh (several self-portraits, Starry Night) and Gauguin's depictions of Tahiti. The café upstairs is also perfect for a light lunch.

See: Musée Marmottan Monet

This intimate museum in the leafy, residential 16th was a hunting lodge in the 19th century; its size is a lovely contrast to the grand D'Orsay. (You can do the whole thing, audio guide, too, in about an hour and a half). Inside, you'll find one of the world's largest collection of Monets (130-plus of his paintings, drawings, and sketches), alongside works by Mary Cassatt and Berthe Morisot.

Shop: Au Printemps

This and Galeries Lafayette are Paris's grandest department stores—picture floor upon floor of big-name designers (Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga) as well as more affordable ready-to-wear (Gerard Darel, the Kooples, Paul and Joe). Pop into the original location, on Boulevard Hausmann.

Shop: Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

When celebs like Kim Kardashian, Kanye, and J. Lo come to Paris, they make a beeline for this street in the tony 8th. It's home to every high-end brand—Hermès, Saint Laurent, Erès, Cartier—under the sun. Worth a visit, even if you're just window-shopping—then pop into the Bristol Bar for a splurge.